I am absolutely convinced that some of the 'generational talent' coming out of the UK is the product of marketing strategy, part of which is agents paying pundits to elevate players. With the amount of money in wages and transfers - and the amount agents are getting, significant money can be paid to the top pundits to wax lyrical about certain players to add 10s of millions to the player value. It's the only explanation I can think of when i hear pundits talk about players who look bang average and have literally only just come onto the scene being talked about the way they are. A simple pass is positioned as world class, a goal is positioned as special even if its run of the mill. Man of the match awards given to players who were largely anonymous. Foden, Mount, Bellingham are classic examples - decent players but no more, yet all of them apparently were, or are, 'generational talents'. Trent Alexander Arnold is another - one of the worst defenders I have seen yet he pings a long pass now and then (mostly to no one) and the pundits are soiling themselves!
I've often thought this. I know Chelsea have had a pretty good youth academy in the last 10 years or so, but there would always be players whom everyone would rave over, and i'd watch them and be like "okay, so.....whats the fuss?!" Chief amongst those were Loftus-Cheek and Billy Gilmour. People were raving about Gilmour saying he is a revelation and a "Generational talent" as you put it. And technically he was good, but he lacked the physicality to play in the PL. I know he has just won Serie A with Napoli, but Italian football is slow, and lets face it, ****, these days, he was never gonna make it in the PL, or even the SPL.
MLS, Nwaneri and Dowman are all unreal and that's just at our club. Dowman looks the best of the lot and the closest thing to a potential Yamal rival. Mickey Moore is supposed to be amazing isn't he?
Is he though? If all the hype spewed about our Youth graduates had come to fruition, our Senior team right now would be better than Barca circa 2009 or the Brazil 1970 side. With Mason Mount and Patrick Bamford picking up a couple of Ballon D'ors each
Cini - this is what i meant about the PR. The Yamal comparison literally popped up yesterday in the media and now I see fans repeating it. I get it, but seriously, the kid is 15 and has played a few minutes of first team football where he did ok and was not out of place. But t was a friendly - against a Milan team who had made loads of subs and had literally just returned for pre season. Nwaneri looks a good prospect - but honestly I think he went missing a lot last year when he did play - but had some very good moments. MLS is probably the most exciting at this point - but even he has some issues that he has to iron out in defence. Eagerness of youth, I guess, and lack of experience positionally in that position.
Really ? In the chances he did get in the team I thought he did really well. He even scored 9 goals last season. Which is a brilliant return for a 17/18 year old who was used when Saka got injured. Not forgetting that absolute worldie against City when we smashed them 5-1 Both him and MLS are amazing talents and we are blessed to have them in our team.
I am not saying Nwaneri didn't do well - he did. He was however also quite ineffective for long periods in games and sometimes overall in a game. He's got a lot of potential, but the idea he is ready to take over as a starter is for the birds , IMO. He MIGHT turn into a really top class player.
Tbf, he was thrust into that team because of Saka's injury and did incredibly well for a 17 year old. Every player has periods where they're not tearing it up, but he's shown that he's got what it takes to make it in the first team. But yeah, ease him in. He'll get plenty of game time this coming season.
Yes I do for sure. We've just been to multiple finals at International level with a squad that Included: Kane, Walker, Stones, Rice, Saka, Foden, Bellingham etc.. (that's already an improvement on previous England generations) It's not about hype it's about quantity of talent - academies in England are finally consistently producing more talent than ever. Just look at the U19-U21 International Tournaments over the last few years. We won the U21 euros this year and a bunch of these guys are going to be TOP level players. Also look at Arsenal right now: Dowman may be the best youngster we've ever produced. The kids incredible. (That how highly he's thought of at Arsenal) Lewis Skelly - absolute top class, 18 and bossing the best sides in Europe. Nwaneri another technically gifted youngster. Sakas still only 23 as well. Spain have the likes of Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, Zubimendi, Rodri, Williams, Huijsen, Cavajal etc.. The talent pool is DEEP.
